Psalm 32 Poetic Structure
Psalm 32
Poetic Structure
In poetic structure, we analyse the structure of the psalm beginning at the most basic level of the structure: the line (also known as the “colon” or “hemistich”). Then, based on the perception of patterned similarities (and on the assumption that the whole psalm is structured hierarchically), we argue for the grouping of lines into verses, verses into sub-sections, sub-sections into larger sections, etc. Because patterned similarities might be of various kinds (syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, sonic) the analysis of poetic structure draws on all of the previous layers (especially the Discourse layer).
Poetic Macro-structure
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
Notes
- The whole poem is bound by a phonological inclusio: the twofold אַשְׁרֵי (ashre) at the beginning of the psalm and יִשְׁרֵי (yishre) at the end.
- The poem has two main sections (vv. 1–5 // vv. 6–10). The divine name "YHWH" occurs twice in each main section. The discourse marker "Because of this" (עַל־זֹאת) (v. 6) marks the transition to the second main section.
- The first half of the psalm, vv. 1-5, is unambiguously delimited by the cluster of "sin" words in vv. 1-2 and 5, as well as the repetition of the verbal roots √נשׂא and √כסה. In the middle of this symmetrical section we have the repetition of כִּי and the root יוֹם.
- The second half of the psalm is delimited by the symmetrical structure of כָּל modifying a faithful participant, with the verbal roots √סבב and symmetry: √רנן on the interior.
- Instead of two sections between vv. 6–8 and 9–11, the appearance of Selah indicates a threefold division between vv. 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11—a structure which is also favored by Potgieter[1] and Auffret.[2] Nevertheless, the participant shift from the praying person and his/her answer in vv. 7–8 to the psalmist counseling those who would heed wisdom in vv. 9–11 strongly suggest 9–11 as a section. A number of translations indicate YHWH to be speaking in both vv. 8 and 9, which would further favor this division as a unit, though this is highly unlikely, as discussed in the exegetical issue, The Participants of Psalm 32:7-9. The conclusions of the exegetical issue have not been appreciated by most scholars. Further, there is also a Selah between the psalmist's conviction (v. 4) and confession (v. 5), so in the case of v. 7, we similarly have a Selah between the praying person's confession (v. 7) and promised conviction (v. 8).
Line Divisions
Line division divides the poem into lines and line groupings. We determine line divisions based on a combination of external evidence (Masoretic accents, pausal forms, manuscripts) and internal evidence (syntax, prosodic word counting and patterned relation to other lines). Moreover, we indicate line-groupings by using additional spacing.
When line divisions are uncertain, we consult some of the many psalms manuscripts which lay out the text in lines. Then, if a division attested in one of these manuscripts/versions influences our decision to divide the text at a certain point, we place a green symbol (G, DSS, or MT) to the left of the line in question.
| Poetic line division legend | |
|---|---|
| Pausal form | Pausal forms are highlighted in yellow. |
| Accent which typically corresponds to line division | Accents which typically correspond to line divisions are indicated by red text. |
| | | Clause boundaries are indicated by a light gray vertical line in between clauses. |
| G | Line divisions that follow Greek manuscripts are indicated by a bold green G. |
| DSS | Line divisions that follow the Dead Sea Scrolls are indicated by a bold green DSS. |
| M | Line divisions that follow Masoretic manuscripts are indicated by a bold green M. |
| Number of prosodic words | The number of prosodic words are indicated in blue text. |
| Prosodic words greater than 5 | The number of prosodic words if greater than 5 is indicated by bold blue text. |
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
Notes
- v. 1 – The clausal structure (with apposition) support a one-line unit in this verse. Nevertheless, the LXX and Babylonian show early evidence for אַשְׁרֵ֥י נְֽשׂוּי־פֶּ֗שַׁע and כְּס֣וּי חֲטָאָֽה׃ as two separate lines, as do the accents.
- v. 2 – Despite the imbalance and lone A-line, the accents, LXX and Babylonian witnesses support our preferred division. Furthermore, though containing 7 prosodic words, the A-line is only 12 syllables (compare 11 in v. 1b, 10 in v. 3a, and 13 in v. 4a).
- v. 4 – The accents are quite difficult in this verse, the tsinnor with a precursor and atnakh both falling in the middle of a line. Nevertheless, this line division is supported by clause structure, the LXX, and Babylonian witnesses.
- v. 5 – In this case, the accents and clausal structure support our preference for the three-line section. By contrast, the LXX and Babylonian witnesses separate חַטָּאתִ֨י אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡ and וַעֲוֺ֘נִ֤י לֹֽא־כִסִּ֗יתִי into two separate lines.
- v. 6 – The LXX contains a two-line section in this verse, with only עַל־זֹ֡את יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל כָּל־חָסִ֨יד ׀ אֵלֶיךָ֮ לְעֵ֪ת מְ֫צֹ֥א and רַ֗ק לְ֭שֵׁטֶף מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים אֵ֝לָ֗יו לֹ֣א יַגִּֽיעוּ׃, against both the tsinnor and atnakh accents, resulting in 6-7 prosodic words (15 and 14 syllables, respectively). Preferable is the division found in both Aleppo and BL Or 2373, though the first division is not supported by the accents or clause structure. The similar beginnings between the second and fourth line (with the preposition אֵל) hints at some intentionality in the first enjambment, however.
- v. 7 – Despite the disjunctive tsinnor on לִי֮ and atnakh on פַלֵּ֑ט, this line division is supported by the LXX, BL Or 2373, line balance, and—in the case of the second line—clause structure.
- v. 8 – Despite the revia with precursor (azla legarmeh), the LXX, BL Or 2373 and clausal structure support the preferred division.
- ↑ J. H. Potgieter, 2014. "The structure and homogeneity of Psalm 32," HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 70(1), Art. #2725, 6 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2725.
- ↑ Pierre Auffret, 2011. “‘Et Toi, Tu as Enlevé La Faute de Mon Péché’: Nouvelle Étude Structurelle Du Psaume 32.” Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society 32 (1).